Posts Tagged ‘auto defects’

So far, about 24 million vehicles using Takata airbags have been recalled in the U.S.

They’re meant to be triggered by a crash, but in an unsettling number of situations, airbag inflators provided by Japanese supplier Takata have gone off far more aggressively than intended, a situation so far linked to at least 10 deaths.

Researchers working for a consortium of 10 automakers believe they finally have figured out why Takata airbags are prone to rupturing. They blame three factors, including manufacturing problems, exposure to high humidity, and the basic chemical used to inflate Takata airbags in the event of a crash,

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The findings are the result of a year-long effort to explain the problem which has so far led to the recall of nearly 25 million vehicles in the U.S. – and which could lead to the recall of another 50 million vehicles using Takata inflators.

Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, notes there is no such thing as a small or minor recall.

The numbers have been adding up fast. Just since the beginning of this month, Japan’s five largest automakers have recalled nearly 6 million vehicles due to airbag problems. General Motors has staged more than three dozen recalls since the beginning of the year for all manner of issues impacting 20 million vehicles worldwide, nearly 18 million in the U.S. alone.

At the current pace, industry analysts anticipate the industry will soon exceed not only last year’s total of 27.96 million vehicles covered by safety-related recalls, but also the 33.01 million peak set in 2004.

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Yet – or perhaps because of – the fast clip of announcements, there’s concern that millions of those vehicles will never be repaired. According to data tracked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an average one of every four vehicles covered by a safety recall will never be fixed. (more…)

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 33,000 model year 2010 Transit Connect vans manufactured from December 5, 2008 through May 31, 2010 for failing to meet the minimum requirements of a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered the safety defect back in April during crash testing of the imported Turkish van. Transit Connect exceeded head injury criteria requirements set by the standard number 201, “occupant protection in interior impact.” The headliner retention pushpin located on the headliner above the b-pillar trim on both the left and right side of the vehicles needs to be replaced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced that it is opening a formal investigation of the Toyota Prius Hybrid model year 2010 to look into allegations of momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump.

Readers of TheDetroitBureau.com will not be surprised by the latest development, which we first reported back in December, (click here) along with Toyota’s initial statement that it was unaware of the problem, as Toyota engineers in Japan were preparing a computer programming fix that went into production late in January.

The Office of Defects Investigation has received 124 reports from consumers, including four reports alleging that crashes occurred. Investigators have spoken with consumers and conducted pre-investigatory fieldwork.

“Safety is our top priority,” said Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who is in charge of NHTSA. “That is why in recent weeks NHTSA has also issued a consumer advisory on the recall of several models of Toyota vehicles and the Pontiac Vibe involving pedal entrapment and sticky accelerator pedals. We will continue to monitor these issues closely.”

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Late Wednesday, Secretary LaHood spoke with Toyota president, Akio Toyoda, who reassured him that Toyota takes U.S. safety concerns seriously and puts safety at the top of the company’s priorities.

Toyota has repeatedly claimed that safety is its top priority, of course, but has been proven wrong about its previous statements asserting the causes of unintended acceleration. (more…)